12 years and 4 ENT Groups

Posted by chzuck @chzuck, Oct 19 6:00pm

I have been battling a stuffy nose at night since around 2012. I started with my family doctor and moved on to 4 different ENT groups and all of them only treated symptoms with no effort at a root cause, except the last one made an attempt to see what I may be allergic to via some blood work. Prior to getting a CPAP machine, I seemed to have the symptoms only over the winter months. With CPAP it got worse in that it was year round.. April a years ago I had the worst ear ache ever and I had many as a child. My ENT at the time seemed uninterested at the details of the ear ache, as he had no response and at first visit said, come back in 8 weeks and we will see how things are then. At this point my hearing was suffering and my sinuses felt plugged. He eventually installed a tube on one ear and said I don't know what else to do for you. So, on to ENT group 4 and the guy I see says I am only an ear guy, I had to see one of his colleagues for my nose and sinus issues, which I did. I went through my recent history and as usual got no answer as to why my nose went shut at night. He said the nose never signed up for the pressure of a CPAP and suggested to switch to INSPIRE, nothing about finding out what is causing my problem. He mentioned trimming the turbinates, which seemed illogical since my nose was fine all day long. Several ENTs put me on Fluticcasone Propionate, which I never noticed any help from. I was using this stuff since 2012. This last guy wanted me to go on Xhance, which is the same stuff in a high tech bottle and costs $500.
In the meantime on a visit to COSTCO for a hearing aid issue, the tech mentioned she had a similar problem and removed the carpet from her house and the issue went away. She said it was dust mites. That got me thinking it could be my problem.
Two weeks ago I had an overnight stay in the hospital for a procedure and my nose never closed up. A light came on. My bedroom is in the basement and at times basements can breed mold from humidity. I came home from the hospital and spent a week upstairs due to my procedure and my nose never closed. I purchased two air purifiers with HEPA 14 filters, one for basement as a whole and one for my small room and my nose issue is much improved, not quite completely gone, but much improved as far as using the CPAP. Prior to this I would do a nasal rinse before bed and use Ayr Allergy & Sinus plus I relied on Neo-Synephrine more than I wanted to have an open nose for using my CPAP. Some nights the stuffiness was that bad I did not use CPAP.
I say all of this with the hope there may be someone out there suffering like I was and would look at this as something to try. I may still remove the carpet from my bedroom. It has been there since 1999 and very well could be a breeding ground for almost anything not good. What you can't see can hurt you.

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I get what you mean about ENT. I will consider your suggestions. I have post covid syndrome and have had the stuffy nose at night since, plus frequent nose pouring water and congestion. Tonight it’s not too bad.

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@celia16

I get what you mean about ENT. I will consider your suggestions. I have post covid syndrome and have had the stuffy nose at night since, plus frequent nose pouring water and congestion. Tonight it’s not too bad.

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I can say mine started well before COVID and at first thought it was related to a drug called Flomax that I was taking. I stopped taking that and it seemed to get better for a time, but did not go away. After my recovery from the recent surgery I will give serious thought to removing the carpet.

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I have done the 4 ENT circuit and I only do noses, not ears, etc. I remain unimpressed with each and everyone that I saw but I am in a medically challenged area. I have heard that UAB and Vanderbilt have excellent ENT programs....which generally means more knowledgeable and experienced practitioners.

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